System of performing a retrospective drug profile review of de-identified patients

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for delivering targeted informational messages includes a computer system for creating a de-identified encrypted PID and de-identified patient transaction data in a retail store for transmission and storage. A subset of de-identified encrypted PIDs are associated with targeted informational messages by the system and transmitted to retail stores, where a targeted message is printed on behalf of the patient corresponding to the de-identified encrypted PID.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national stage entry of international application PCT/US06/19432 filed May 18, 2006, attorney docket reference PIP162ROBE-PCT, which claims priority to provisional application No. 60/685,491 filed May 31, 2005, attorney docket reference PIP158BANFP-US, and non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/235,083, attorney docket reference PIP158BANFU-US, filed Sep. 28, 2005, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to providing specific advisory messages to patients/consumers in a store, pharmacy or other location.

2. Discussion of the Background

U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,524 to Byerly et al. discloses a method and system for generating advisory messages to pharmacy patients. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,524 are incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Definitions

We refer to a Computer System with the acronym CS.

Certain terms used in this application are defined below. In some cases, examples are provided to clarify the definition.

A consumer, in this application, is synonymous with a patient, or a purchaser of a drug, or one who is prescribed a drug, or one who takes a drug, or one who fills a prescription for a drug or a user of a drug; all of these terms are synonymous with each other.

NDC is an acronym for National Drug Code. Each medication listed under Section 510 of the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is assigned a unique 11-digit, 3-segment number. This number, known as the National Drug Code (NDC), identifies the labeler/vendor, product, and trade package size. The first segment, the labeler code, is assigned by the FDA. A labeler is any firm that manufactures (including repackers or relabelers), or distributes (under its own name) the drug.

PID is an acronym for Patient Identification. PID in this application refers to any unique set of symbols that identifies a particular patient. PID is an acronym for “Patient ID.” A PID may, for example, be comprised of a sequence of numbers and letters.

POS is an acronym for Point Of Sale. A POS is the area where a consumer engages in transactions at a retail store.

A POS terminal, in this application, means a point of sale terminal, which is an input output device for communicating consumer transaction information between a consumer and a retail store to a CS associated with the retail store.

A POS CS, in this application, means a CS for logging POS transaction data, including any peripheral and input and output devices connected to it, such as POS terminals, optical scanners, printers, etc.

All databases herein may be formatted as one or more files, xml documents, relational database files, and may include tables, forms, queries, relations, reports, modules, and other objects useful in database management and programming. All computers herein may include a digital central processing unit, RAM memory, disk drives, operating system software, and conventional hardware and software to implement, for example, database management and networking.

A product code, in this application, is a code associated with a product assigned by a manufacturer or distributor (labeler). For example, a product code may be a code assigned by a company, a store, or by an industry standard, to a product.

A prescription, in this application, means an order for the preparation and administration of a medicine or drug.

A purchase, in this application, means a transaction involving at least two parties in which forms of payment such as cash, check, charge, debit, smart card, gift card, credit slip, or credit is exchanged for one or more goods or services in a retail store.

Purchase data, in this application, means data associated with purchases. For example, purchase data may include a product code for the product purchased, product description, product purchase list price, actual price paid, date of purchase, time of purchase, transaction ID, location of purchase, discount amount, discount type, and type of payment, and a PID.

A retail store, in this application, refers to a store in which products are located and sold to consumers. Examples of retail stores include pharmacies, supermarkets, quick service restaurants, convenience stores, retail clothing stores, gas stations, petroleum stores, wholesalers, outlet stores, and warehouses.

An individual transaction, in this application, means a single exchange involving at least two legal entities. A purchase is an individual transaction.

Individual transaction data, in this application, means data associated with an individual transaction.

Transaction data, in this application, means data associated with one or more transactions. For example, transaction data may include purchase data, time and date data, PIDs, transaction terminal IDs, store IDs for one or more transactions.

Transaction ID, in this application, refers to a unique identification associated with an individual transaction.

Switch, in this application, refers to a claim adjudication legal entity that accepts individual transaction data from a pharmacy, submits the data to an insurance company reformatted to the data requirements of the insurance company, receives responses thereto from the insurance company, and forwards those responses to the originating pharmacy.

A pharmacy management CS, in this application, refers to a POS CS including a patient database and a drug database that is capable of logging transaction data for consumers in a pharmacy.

A drug database, in this application, refers to a database including at least three of the following: patient names; prescribing history records (e.g., drug, dosage, doctor, date); patient method of payment (e.g., cash, check, credit, or health insurance company); group plan name and member ID; name and address of primary doctor and DEA number of primary doctor; association of prescription to prescribing doctor's ID and contact information; and a drug visualization system to view drug images against actual pills or capsules.

De-identifying patient information means removing sufficient key items from the patient information such that the information cannot be used, alone or in combination with other reasonably available patient information, to identify the individual patient.

Re-identify means to take de-identified patient information and assign it to the identity of the patient.

The SHA-1 Standard defines the Secure Hash Algorithm, SHA-1, for computing a condensed representation of a message or a data file. When a message of any length <264 bits is input, the SHA-1 produces a 160-bit output called a message digest. SHA-1 is described in Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 180-1, Apr. 17, 1995, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The SHA-1 is designed to have the following properties: it is computationally infeasible to determine a message which corresponds to a given message digest, or to determine two different messages which produce the same message digest.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) confirms standards for regulatory approved de-identification. HIPAA approved de-identification requires removal of identifiers for the patient, the patient's relatives, employers, and household members. The test for HIPAA approved de-identification is that “a person with appropriate knowledge of and experience with generally accepted statistical and scientific principles and methods for rendering patient information not individually identifiable” determines that the risk is very small that the patient information could be used, alone or in combination with other reasonably available patient information, to identify a patient and documents the analysis to justify this determination.

HIPAA approved de-identification thus may involve the deletion or alteration of some portion of patient data to protect patient privacy, while preserving the overall statistical and analytical integrity of the data. This is due to the fact that other patient information such as demographics, medical information, and healthcare facility information could be used separately or in combination to discern the identity of some patients.

The safe harbor method for de-identification, in this application, means the method defined by HIPAA. The safe harbor method requires (1) the removal of a list of 18 enumerated patient identifiers and (2) no actual knowledge that the patient information remaining could be used, alone or in combination, to identify the patient. The patient identifiers that must be removed include direct patient identifiers, such as name, street address, social security number, as well as other patient identifiers, such as birth date, admission and discharge dates, and five-digit zip code. The safe harbor method also requires removal of geographic subdivisions smaller than a state, except for the initial three digits of a zip code if the geographic unit formed by combining all zip codes with the same initial three digits contains more than 20,000 people. The safe harbor method does not require the removal of age if less than 90, gender, ethnicity, and other demographic information.

OBJECTS

It is an object of the present invention to provide to patients information that motivates the patients to comply with specified medical treatments and to educate the patient regarding the medications.

It is an object of the present invention to enable pharmacies and other parties (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, consumer packaged goods manufacturers, and retailers) to define, develop, and deliver advertising programs targeted at specific groups of patients.

These and other objects are provided by a novel system and method for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising a pharmacy management CS configured to receive individual transaction data and an associated non-encrypted PID, to de-identify the individual transaction data to produce a de-identified individual transaction data, to encrypt said non-encrypted PID to produce an encrypted PID, and to use the encrypted and de-identified data to generate a targeted informational message and deliver that message to the person associated with the PID.

The encryption algorithm produces the same encrypted PID whenever the same un-encrypted PID is input.

The novel system also includes a CS configured to determine from the de-identified transaction data for the transaction associated with the encrypted PID at least one targeted informational message, store the targeted informational message in association with the encrypted PID, and transmit to the POS the targeted informational message in response to receipt of the PID at the POS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in connection with the following figures, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a high level schematic diagram illustrating novel system 1;

FIG. 3A shows data structure 300A for database 130A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B shows data structure 300B for databases 120A and 130A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3C shows data structure 300C for databases 120A and 130A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing flow of data in computer equipment associated with one embodiment of either system 120 or system 130 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing flow of data in computer equipment associated with element 516 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of using the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method of using the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example database schema of database 120A;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example database schema of database 120A;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example database schema of database 120A;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example database schema of database 120A;

FIGS. 13-25 are flowcharts illustrating methods of utilizing the database schema of database 120A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows pharmacy management CS 130, pharmacy management CS database 130A, network 110, communication links 104, central CS 120, central CS database 120A, insurance company CS 140, insurance company CS database 140A, switch CS 142, and switch CS database 142A.

The communication links 104 indicate a means for data transmission including wire and wireless transmission hardware, data format, and transmission protocols. Lines connecting a database to a CS indicates that the computer controls read and write access to that database.

FIG. 3A shows data structure 300A including PID table 300A-2 and transaction data table 300A-1. PID table 300A-2 includes data fields associated with a PID that identify the patient, including postal address field 350, email address field 352, name field 358, telephone number field 356 and other data fields that can be used to identify a patient. Transaction table 300A-1 includes data associated with transactions in a pharmacy including PID field 330, store ID field 310, date field 334, NDC field 336, quantity field 338, and physician field 340. Tables 300A-1 and 300A-2 are representative of identification data and transaction data stored in pharmacy management CS 130's database 130A. Data stored in data structure 300B is the result of de-identifying data stored in data structure 300A.

FIG. 3B shows data structure 300B including encrypted PID field 302, and transaction data fields 310, 334, 336, 338, and other non-identifying transaction data fields.

Data structure 300B may be used, for example, as a format for sending transaction data records from pharmacy management CS 130 to central CS 120. Alternatively, the data structures and functionality described as existing in central CS 120 may reside in the system 130 on the same computer or distributed between computers interconnected by a network.

In alternative embodiments data structure 300A may be used to transmit transaction data to central CS 120. Central CS 120 de-identifies the transaction data and stores the de-identified data in database 120A using data structure 300B.

FIG. 3C shows targeted message data structure 300C of central CS 130 associating encrypted PID field 320 and targeted message field 322. Data structure 300C may reside on the CSs 120 and 130. Data structure 300C may be used as a format for transmission of data between systems 120 and 130.

FIGS. 5-6 diagram flow of data in a specific embodiment or closely related embodiments.

Pharmacy publication system 406 transmits patient B's de-identified transaction data and patient B's encrypted PID to data load system 510 via local link 112 or network link 104.

Any secure one-way algorithmic encryption process or encrypting hash algorithm that takes a unique unencrypted sequence of symbols (e.g., numbers or letters) as input and produces a unique encrypted sequence of symbols as output, such that the same unique encrypted output is produced for a given unique input, may be used as an alternative to the SHA-1 algorithm.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing the flow of data preferably in central CS 120, or alternatively in pharmacy management CS 130. FIG. 5 shows data load system 510, data warehouse 514, categorization and filtering system 516, database build system 520, publication content database server 512, and retailer specific content database server 522.

In exemplary embodiments, data load system 510, data warehouse 514, categorization and filtering system 516, database build system 520, publication content database server 512, and retailer specific content database server 522 may be structured as sub-systems all residing within a single computer, or, alternately, may be structured as a physically distributed CS interconnected by conventional communication hardware and software.

In operation, data load system 510 receives as input SHA-1 encrypted PIDs linked to de-identified transaction data from pharmacy publication system 406 via data network link 104 or local data link 112. Data load system 510 transforms de-identified patient data into a structure consistent with the data warehouse 514 requirements. Data load system 510 then outputs de-identified patient data including an SHA-1 encrypted PID to data warehouse 514. Data load system 510 may, for example, populate tables in the data warehouse schema and then verify that the data is ready for use. Data load system 510 may, for example, verify the referential integrity between tables to ensure that all records relate to appropriate records in other tables.

In operation, data warehouse 514 functions, for example, as a data repository for organizing, structuring and storing plural pharmacies' individual transaction data for query and analysis. Data warehouse 514 implements a process by which large quantities of related data from many operational systems is merged into a single, standard repository to provide an integrated information view based on logical queries. For example, data warehouse 514 may be a repository of 65 weeks of individual transaction data from 12,500 retail stores including therein a large number that either are pharmacies or include therein pharmacies, and store therein de-identified historical patient profiles.

Types of logical queries may relate to “data mining,” which can be defined as a process of data selection, exploration and building models using vast data stores to uncover previously unknown patterns. Other queries may be in support of research on a particular subject. In operation, data warehouse 514 serves as a tool that can provide information for use in a wide variety of therapeutic, statistical, and economic analyses and interventions to aid in making healthcare and business related decisions. In operation, data warehouse 514 can also generate and store feedback regarding the impact of prior decisions, facilitating improvements in patient care, operational efficiency, and reducing the cost of medical care.

In operation, categorization and filtering system 516 formulates and executes DBMS (Data Base Management System) queries on the de-identified individual transaction data residing on data warehouse 514, using for example, SQL boolean logic and filtering operations. Categorization and filtering system 516 filters the query results to produce a subset of encrypted PIDs linked to de-identified individual transaction data matching categorization and filtering criteria. If the de-identified individual transaction data for one or more transactions linked to an encrypted PD matches certain categorization and filtering criteria, then the linked encrypted PID is termed a qualified encrypted PID. Categorization and filtering system 516 outputs a certain set of qualified encrypted PIDs to database build system 520.

In operation, categorization and filtering system 516 may implement DBMS selection operations based upon complex criteria. These operations may be implemented as a series of simple queries using, for example, relatively simple SQL boolean logic, selection, and filtering operations. Such a series of simple queries may result, for example, in a series of intermediate tables or work tables that are progressively more refined and contain progressively smaller subsets of qualifying records. Partitioning the query tasks of categorization and filtering system 516 in this way may result in increased database access efficiency and shorter processing times. Partitioning the categorization and filtering operation into a series of simple query operations also promotes ease of programming, maintenance, modification, and testing.

In operation, database build system 520 receives as input from categorization and filtering system 516 a certain set of qualified encrypted PIDs. Database build system 520 queries publication content database server 512 for targeted messages associated with that certain categorization and filtering criteria. The retrieved targeted messages are those associated with the certain categorization and filtering criteria used to produce the certain set of qualified encrypted PIDs. Database build system 520 associates the retrieved targeted messages with the set of encrypted PIDs, for example, by combining the qualified encrypted PIDs output from categorization and filtering system 516 with the certain targeted messages retrieved from publication content database server 512. Database build system 520 outputs targeted messages linked to qualified encrypted PIDs to retailer specific content database server 522. Preferably, the output also associates store ID or retailer ID with the encrypted PID. Database build system 520 may, for example, create and populate tables of targeted messages linked to qualified encrypted PIDs on retailer specific content database server 522.

In operation, publication content database server 512 services queries from database build system 520 for targeted messages.

In operation, retailer specific content database server 522 receives as input updates of retailer specific targeted newsletter content from database build system 520. Retailer specific content database server 522 functions to provide updated retailer specific targeted newsletter content to pharmacy publication system 406 via data links 104 and 112 and network 110 using, for example, File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

In exemplary embodiments, the functions of central CS 120 necessary to generate advisory messages associated with encrypted PIDs may be performed by suitably configured embodiments of pharmacy management CS 130.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing the flow of data in categorization and filtering system 516. FIG. 6 shows categorization system 610 and filtering system 620. In exemplary embodiments, categorization system 610 and filtering system 620 may be structured as sub-systems all residing within a single computer, or, alternately, may be structured as a physically distributed CS interconnected by conventional communication hardware and software.

FIG. 6 also shows categories 612 which are outputs of categorization system 610 and inputs to filtering system 620. FIG. 6 also shows de-identified patient data output 628 of data warehouse 514 as input to filtering system 620. FIG. 6 also shows filtering system 620 outputting filtered de-identified patient data 622.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart depicting a method for operating system 1.

In step 704, patient PIED and transaction data are received at pharmacy management CS 130. For example, the patient's name may be input at retail system 404 and the patient's PID then retrieved from a database.

In step 706, pharmacy management CS 130 encrypts the PID and de-identifies the individual transaction data.

In step 708, pharmacy management CS 130 transmits de-identified transaction data linked to encrypted patient PID 422 to central CS 120.

In step 710, the central CS 120 updates its data store of individual transaction data records associated with the encrypted PD by adding the newly received individual transaction data thereto.

In step 712, central CS 120 matches the encrypted PID with a targeted message using the encrypted PID as the search key.

For example, central CS 120 identifies a safety warning relating to a drug previously purchased by the patient having the encrypted PID, and associates that warning with the encrypted PID.

For another example, central CS 120 identifies a brand of a first drug previously purchased by the patient associated with the encrypted PID and associates with the encrypted PID marketing material for a different brand of the same drug or a brand of a different drug used for the same clinical indication as the first drug with the encrypted PID.

For another example, the central CS 120 identifies lack of purchase in a pattern of prior purchases of a first drug or drugs having the same clinical indication as the first drug and associates with the encrypted PID a targeted message identifying at least one brand of a drug or drugs having that clinical indication.

In step 714, central CS 120 transmits a targeted message with an encrypted PID to pharmacy management CS 130.

In step 716, pharmacy management CS 130 prints targeted newsletter 410 in response to the receipt of the PID corresponding to the encrypted PID or in response to a transaction including that PID.

FIG. 8 shows a method of using system 120.

In step 802, categorization system and filtering system 516 links specific drugs to specific disease categories. For example, the drug Lipitor is associated with the disease category “high cholesterol patients” and the drug insulin is associated with associated with the disease category “diabetes patients.”

In step 804, categorization system and filtering system 516 links de-identified data in data warehouse 514 to specific disease categories. For example, if a de-identified data record indicates that insulin has been purchased in the past, then that de-identified data record is allocated to the category “diabetes patients.”

In step 806, categorization system and filtering system 516 further filters the de-identified data records allocated to patient categories created in step 804 to produce targeted subsets. For example, system 516 creates one subset for “high cholesterol patients” and one subset for “diabetes patients,” or subsets for patients in both categories or only one of each category. For example, the operations of step 806 may be implemented as a series of DBMS queries using, for example, SQL boolean logic, selection, and filtering operations. Such a series of simple queries may result, for example, in a series of intermediate, or work, tables, that are progressively more refined and contain progressively smaller subsets of qualifying de-identified data records.

In step 808, database build system 520 links the targeted de-identified data record subsets produced in step 806 with appropriate targeted messages from publication content database server 512 where, for example, one targeted message for patients of both categories and one each for patients having only one of diabetes and high cholesterol. For example, database build system 520 may extract the encrypted PID from a de-identified data record and link the encrypted PID to an appropriate targeted publication.

In step 810, database build system 520 updates retailer specific content database server 522 with targeted publications data linked to encrypted PIDs, and the store Ds with which the encrypted PIDs are each associated.

Embodiments target for informational communication subsets of de-identified patients whose individual de-identified transaction data satisfies complex selection criteria Exemplary embodiments may target for an informational communication for example the following subsets of de-identified patients (A)-(N):

(A) Patients on two or more medications that clarify the exact disease for which they are being treated that a single medication does not properly identify;

(B) Patients taking two or more medications over time indicating their disease is requiring additional treatment to maintain or control its progression;

(C) Patients taking a sequence of drugs indicating what stage of therapy within the patient's disease, patient currently is in;

(D) Patients not currently being treated for a particular condition but who are likely candidates for drug therapy due to one or more risk factors as defined by other medications within the patients' drug profile;

(E) Patients who are already compliant and or persistent on their medication regimen as defined by consistent use of drug therapy over time;

(F) Patients who have already switched from one medication within a drug class to another medication within same or different drug class known to treat the same condition;

(G) Patients who are using medications for chronic treatment vs. acute treatment for a particular disease by identifying patients receiving multiple new prescriptions for the same drug over time;

(H) Patients that should be eliminated from a patient subset due to a known drug contraindication as identified by additional drug therapy creating the contraindication;

(I) Patients that should be eliminated from a patient subset due to a known drug interaction as identified by additional drug therapy creating the drug interaction;

(J) Patients that have stopped taking their current medication as identified by being late for a prescription refill and reminding them to continue their therapy;

(K) Patients that have stopped taking their current medication as identified by being late for a prescription refill and inform them of other medications used to treat the same condition that may work better for them;

(L) Patients who have previously used medications to treat seasonal conditions that could benefit from similar medication therapy upon the next seasonal event;

(M) Patients who may be taking two drugs in combination that could benefit from taking one drug containing both individual drug ingredients; and

(N) Patients who may benefit from a refill reminder just prior to their prescription refill due date as identified by previous non-compliant prescription refill behavior.

FIGS. 9-14 disclose data schemas and algorithms useful in achieving the goals of embodiments A-N.

FIG. 9 shows database tables included in central server database 120A. Database 120A may be implemented using a relational database using several tables, for example. Alternatively, database 120A may be implemented using Extensible Markup Language (XML) “tagged” data. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 has a relational database comprising interrelated database tables. The database of FIG. 9 is characterized by a schema, which includes a set of interrelations between the exemplary component tables shown in FIG. 9.

Database 120A of FIG. 9 includes database table 902, database table 904, and database table 300B′. FIG. 9 shows data fields of database table 300B′ including encrypted PID field 302, and transaction data fields store ID field 310, date field 334, NDC field 336, and quantity field 338, and other non-identifying transaction data fields. Database table 902 of FIG. 9 includes medication field 908 and NDC fields 906 . . . 932 for NDC1 to NDCn respectively. As explained above, the NDC is typically a unique 11-digit, 3-segment number identifying the labeler/vendor, product, and trade package size of a medication. However, the NDCs may be represented in other ways. In each record, the NDCs identified in fields 906 . . . 932 are associated with the medication identified in field 908. FIG. 9 shows one-to-many relation 922 relating NDC field 336 of 300B′ to NDC fields 906 . . . 932 of database table 902.

Database table 904 of FIG. 9 includes disease field 910 and medication fields 940 . . . 960. For each record in table 904, the medications identified in fields 940 . . . 960 are associated with the treatment of the disease identified in field 910.

One-to-many relation 920 of FIG. 9 relates medication field 908 of database table 902 to medication fields 940 . . . 960 of database table 910.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative schema of central server database 120A. Database 120A includes database table 1002, database table 1004, database table 1070, and database table 300B′. Database table 1002 includes medication field 1006 and NDC fields 1008 through 1018. Database table 1004 includes medication field 1020 and risk factor fields 1022 through 1044. Risk factor fields 1022 through 1044 identify risk factors associated with the use of medications. Boolean values in fields 1022 . . . 1044 indicate whether the risk factor 1022 . . . 1044 is or is not associated with the medication identified in field 1020. Database table 1070 includes risk factor field 1050 and medication fields 1052 through 1044. Medication fields 1052 through 1054 identify medications associated with the risk factor. Boolean values in fields 1052 . . . 1054 indicate whether the medication 1052 . . . 1054 is or is not associated with the risk factor identified in field 1050.

Fields 940 . . . 960 in table 904 and 906 . . . 932 in table 902 may store boolean values indication whether the corresponding NDC is or is not associated with the disease identified in field 910 or medication identified in field 908, respectively.

FIG. 11 shows database table 1150 for implementing database 120A′ using an alternative database schema. FIG. 11 shows medication field 1102 and disease fields 1104 . . . 1140.

Records 1170 . . . 1190 of database table 1150 have each have medication data field 1102 and disease data fields 1104 . . . 1140. Using this schema, a “1” stored in disease data field 1104 of record 1170 means that disease 1 is treated using medication 1. Likewise, a “1” stored in disease data field 1108 of record 1170 means that disease 1 is treated using medication 3.

FIG. 12 shows database table 1250 for implementing database 120A′ using an alternative database schema. FIG. 12 shows medication field 1202 and NDC fields 1204 . . . 1240.

Records 1260 . . . 1280 of database table 1250 have each have medication data field 1202 and NDC data fields 1204 . . . 1240. Using this schema, a “1” stored in NDC data field 1204 of record 1270 means that NDC 1 designates medication 1. Likewise, a “1” stored in disease data field 1208 of record 1270 means that NDC 3 also designates medication 1. This means that NDC 1 has the same product segment value as NDC 3.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing use of database 120A as shown in FIG. 9 to identify patients that tale two or more medications associated with a specific disease.

In step 1302 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 1304, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 1306, code determines a first set of diseases associated with at least two medications in the first set of medications using data in table 904.

Next, in step 1308, code writes the encrypted PID and the first set of diseases to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first set of diseases.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and diseases.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of diseases previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (B) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients talking two or more medications over time. The preferred algorithm uses database commands and boolean logic to determines that the disease afflicting these patients requires additional treatment to maintain or control its progression.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients taking two or more medications over time.

In step 1402 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 1404, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 1406, code determines de-identified patients taking two or more medications over time in the first set of medications using data in table 904.

Next, in step 1408, code writes the encrypted PID and the two or more medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the two or more medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PD in field 1402.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and the two or more medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of two or more medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (C) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients taking a sequence of drugs. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic that determines what stage of therapy within the course the of patient's disease that the patient currently is in.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients taking a sequence of drugs.

In step 1502 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 1504, code determines a first set of medications associated with the set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 1506, code determines a second set of medications associated with the set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 1508, code determines from table 300B′ de-identified patients from step 1508 whose purchase dates for first and second sets of medications have specified time sequence using data in table 904.

Next, in step 1510, code writes the encrypted PID and the first and second sets of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first and second sets of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1502.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (D) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients not currently being treated for a particular condition. This embodiment uses programmed logic to correlate risk factors with a patient's use of certain medications which form the patient's drug profile. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine which patients are likely candidates for drug therapy due to the one or more risk factors linked to the medications within the patient's drug profile.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients not currently being treated for a particular condition.

In step 1602 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 1604, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 1606, code determines a set of diseases associated with at least two medications in the set of medications using data in table 904.

Next, in step 1608, code determines those de-identified patients not currently being treated for a particular disease using data table 902.

Next, in step 1610, code correlates risk factors with a de-identified patient's use of certain medications which form the patient's drug profile.

Next, in step 1612, code determines de-identified patients who are likely candidates for drug therapy due to the one or more risk factors linked to the medications within the patient's drug profile.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and diseases.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of diseases previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (E) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients who are consistent in their use of drug therapy over a period of time. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine that this group is compliant or persistent on their medication regimen as defined by their consistent use of drug therapy over time.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients who are consistent in their use of drug therapy over a period of time.

In step 1702 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 1704, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 1706, code determines selects those de-identified patients who are consistent in their use of drug therapy over a period of time using data in table 904.

Next, in step 1708, code writes the encrypted PID and the first set of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first set of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (F) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients who have switched medications from a first medication within a drug class to a second medication within the same or a different drug class. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if the second medication is known to treat the same condition.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients who have switched medications from a first medication within a drug class to a second medication within the same or a different drug class.

In step 1802 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 1804, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step L806, code determines a first set of diseases associated with at least two medications in the first set of medications using data in table 904.

Next, in step 1808, code selects those de-identified patients who have switched medications from a first medication within a drug class to a second medication within the same or a different drug class.

Next, in step 1810, code writes the encrypted PID and the first and second sets of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first and second sets of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PD in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and first and second sets of medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the sets of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (G) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients receiving multiple new prescriptions for the same drug over time. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine patients who are using medications for chronic treatment of a particular disease and those patients who are using those same medications for acute treatment of that disease.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients receiving multiple new prescriptions for the same drug over time.

In step 1902 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 1904, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 1906, code selects those de-identified patients receiving multiple new prescriptions for the same drug over time using data in table 904.

Next, in step 1908, code writes the encrypted PID and the set of multiple new prescriptions for the same drug over time to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the set of multiple new prescriptions for the same drug over time.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (H) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients receiving a first drug who subsequently receive a second drug. This embodiment uses programmed logic to correlate risk factors with a patient's use of the first drug with the second drug to determine if the additional drug therapy creates a contraindication. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if these patients should be eliminated from a patient subset due to a drug contraindication.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients receiving a first drug who subsequently receive a second drug.

In step 2002 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 2004, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 2006, code correlate risk factors with a patient's use of a first drug with a second drug to determine if the additional drug therapy creates a contraindication using data in table 904.

Next, in step 2008, code writes the encrypted PID and the set of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the set of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (I) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients receiving a first drug who subsequently receive a second drug. This embodiment uses programmed logic to correlate risk factors associated with a patient's use of the first drug with the second drug to determine if the additional drug therapy creates a potential drug interaction. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if these patients should be eliminated from a patient subset due to a potential drug interaction.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients receiving a first drug who subsequently receive a second drug.

In step 2102 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 2104, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 2106, code selects those de-identified patients receiving a first drug who subsequently receive a second drug using data in table 904.

Next, in step 2108, code correlates risk factors associated with a patient's use of the first drug with the second drug to determine if the additional drug therapy creates a potential drug interaction.

Next, in step 2110, code writes the encrypted PID and the set of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the set of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (J) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients who are late for a prescription refill. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if these patients should be reminded to continue their therapy.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients who are late for a prescription refill.

In step 2202 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 2204, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 2206, code selects those de-identified patients who are late for a prescription refill using data in table 904.

Next, in step 2208, code determines if these de-identified patients should be reminded to continue their therapy.

Next, in step 2210, code writes the encrypted PID and the first set of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first set of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (K) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients who are late for a prescription refill. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if these patients should be informed of other medications used to treat the same condition that may work better for them.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients who are late for a prescription refill.

In step 2202 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 2204, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 2206, code selects those de-identified patients who are late for a prescription refill using data in table 904.

Next, in step 2208, code determines if these patients should be informed of other medications used to treat the same condition that may work better for them.

Next, in step 2210, code writes the encrypted PID and the first set of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first set of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PLD in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (L) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients who have previously used medications to treat seasonal conditions. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if these patients could benefit from similar medication therapy upon the next seasonal event.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients who have previously used medications to treat seasonal conditions.

In step 2302 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 2304, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 2306, code selects those de-identified patients who previously used medications to treat seasonal conditions using data in table 904.

Next, in step 2308, code determines if these patients could benefit from similar medication therapy upon the next seasonal event.

Next, in step 2310, code writes the encrypted PID and the first set of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first set of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PID in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (M) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients who may be taking two drugs in combination. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if these patients could benefit from taking one drug containing both individual drug ingredients.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients who may be taking two drugs in combination.

In step 2406, code selects those de-identified patients who may be taking two drugs in combination using data in table 904.

Next, in step 2408, code determines if these patients could benefit from taking one drug containing both individual drug ingredients.

Next, in step 2410, code writes the encrypted PID and the one drug containing both individual drug ingredients to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the one drug containing both individual drug ingredients.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

Embodiment (N) is any algorithm applied to the foregoing data that selects those de-identified patients who exhibit non-compliant prescription refill behavior. This embodiment then uses an algorithm implemented with boolean logic to determine if these patients could benefit from a refill reminder just prior to their prescription refill due date.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a method for utilizing the database schema and database tables of central server database 120A shown in FIG. 9 to produce targeted informational messages for de-identified patients who exhibit non-compliant prescription refill behavior.

In step 2502 code determines all NDCs associated with a specific patient using data table 300B′.

Next, in step 2504, code determines a first set of all medications associated with the first set of NDCs using data table 902.

Next, in step 2506, code determines selects those de-identified patients who exhibit non-compliant prescription refill behavior using data in table 904.

Next, in step 2508, code determines if these patients could benefit from a refill reminder just prior to their prescription refill due date.

Next, in step 2510, code writes the encrypted PID and the first set of medications to a file in which the data structure associates the encrypted PID with the first set of medications.

The foregoing steps may be repeated for each unique encrypted PD in field 1302.

Alternatively, conventional SQL commands may be used to achieve the same association of encrypted PIDs and medications.

At some point, code refers to a table or file in which different informational messages are associated with each encrypted PID set to associate with the set of medications previously associated with that encrypted PID.

In addition, the present invention may trigger the production of informational messages based on the following exemplary selection or filtering criteria: age under 90; gender; payer identification; cash payment; NDC; pill count; number of refills; refills remaining on the prescription; new or refill prescription; BIN (Bank Identification Number); NCPDP (National Council for Prescription Drug Programs) provider ID, which is an (individual pharmacy identifier; and DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) number (encrypted).

For example, using embodiments of the present invention, a selection or filtering program can be designed to reach a patient population undergoing a specific drug treatment protocol and which falls within desired (specified) demographic and insurance parameters.

The present invention enables additional segmentation and targeting by using, for example, a unique pharmacy outlet identifier (pharmacy or store ID) and its geographic location as a proxy for a patient's home address in those cases where the proxy address will not re-identify the patient in conformance with HIPAA standards.

Using these targeted message criteria (also referred to as trigger criteria and as categorization and filtering criteria) in exemplary embodiments allows the delivery of variable and highly relevant information to a large number of different patient groups. The present invention thereby provides sophisticated patient service functionality by targeting highly relevant informational messages at specific groups of patients.

With the present invention, it is not required that all pharmacies provide targeted messages resulting from any or all trigger criteria. Each pharmacy or store or set of stores commonly owned may select to implement criteria of their choosing, for example, by marketing category, by manufacturer, or as a regulatory required message.

An advantage of the present invention is that the types of selection programs created reflect the drug information data available at any given moment in time.

Systems 120, 130 may collect and maintain a set of logs, which may contain, for example, accounting information related to newsletter production. These logs, for example, may be used to support billing functions and may also be used in troubleshooting. The logs may be processed and loaded by data load system 510 and may reside on data warehouse 514, for example.

The following de-identified data, for example, may be captured by the system of the present invention in logs: prescription number; NDC (National Drug Code); age under 90; gender; pill count; refill number; new or refill; and refills remaining.

Logs may be transmitted to central CS 120 daily, for example, overnight, and then may, for example, be maintained by central CS 120 for a period of time (for example, 1 year) before being purged or may be maintained indefinitely.

Log data preferably is de-identified and maintained secure from unauthorized access. Log data can be aggregated to assess effectiveness rates for the advertising programs.

The inventors conceive of changes, for example, to the triggering, newsletter printing, and data logging processes, as needed.

In an embodiment, pharmacy management CS 130 combines a PID with a pharmacy chain ID, a store ID and optionally a transaction ID to form a combination ID. The combination ID may be associated with the PID or the encrypted PID.

A third party's CS may hash a vendor specific value (using, for example, the SHA-1 algorithm) into PIDs used in that vendor's retail store. This encrypted data may then be maintained outside of the control of the user of the central system 120, for additional security.

The present invention advantageously allows HIPAA acceptable reduced logging of pharmacy data in locations where population size is below 20,000 for a 3-digit zip code and allows for the handling the age of patients 90 years old and above as 90 years old in those cases where the logging information will not re-identify patients in conformance with HIPAA standards.

Embodiments recognize that since a store location can serve as a reasonable proxy for a 5 digit zip code, that in the sparsely populated areas that fall into this category the correlation is likely higher. Logging may therefore depend on zip code and assorted population sizes of store geographic locations. Central CS 120 may, for example, aggregate transaction data for all (presently 17) restricted 3 digit zip codes into a single 3 digit zone 000.

Alternatively, for areas having small populations, PID information may not be transmitted out of the corresponding pharmacy stores and information logged in any CS may exclude PID information. In these alternatives, no informational messages are targeted based upon prior transaction history of an individual. Instead, information may be triggered in the pharmacy management CS by NDC, age, gender, or the like, although age and gender may not be logged.

Embodiments may use time intervals between prescription filling dates as a surrogate for actual date data. This alternative provides the ability to perform the desired analytics and correlations while minimizing the risk of re-identification. The time interval may be supplied by pharmacy management CS 130. Alternatively, central CS 120's software may calculate the time interval before writing information to logs.

Embodiments may advantageously use data from physician offices to provide, for example, helpful compliance dates (specifically around first fill rates).

Embodiments may advantageously link pharmacy and physician office data to allow maximal de-identified compliance solutions.

Embodiments may advantageously allow the addition of outside information model components in a compliant de-identified method.

Embodiments may advantageously allow the handling large-scale, multi-source, patient-level information.

Embodiments may advantageously aggregate de-identified patient data to develop additional service offerings.

The PID may be credit card numbers, pharmacy or health related identification numbers, and any other identification used by a patient.

With the present invention, there is no way for an un-authorized third party to determine a card holder's real identity even if central CS 120's security is compromised. However, the present invention can still target the card holder for targeted informational messages because every time the retail store sees the customer's card number that number may be associated with the customer's transaction data already stored in association with some unique encrypted PID.

Typically, credit card transactions to pay for pharmacy purchases and corresponding pharmacy prescription order transactions are separate data transactions, in the sense that the information transmitted from the pharmacy management CS in association with the credit card identifier does not contain product or service purchase information. Moreover, in preferred embodiments, purchase of non pharmacy goods, such as purchases from a supermarket and corresponding credit card identifier or other personal identifier are stored in association with at least part of the credit card identifier or other personal identifier in one data structure, whereas purchases of pharmacy prescription products, are stored in separate data structures having no association between any identifiers in the two separate data structures. The inventors do conceive of, as a currently non-preferred embodiment, the de-identification and ID encryption process employable for both non pharmacy retail store POS transactions and pharmacy transactions. In such an embodiment, both non-pharmacy and pharmacy transactions for transaction inside of one retail store or in one retail store chain, may be associated with one another, and still effectively maintain pharmacy patient anonymity.

Some embodiments shown in the figures illustrate a division of processing among separate units or machines. This is not a requirement of the invention, and the various elements could be combined into fewer machines, be distributed among various machines differently, or, in fact, be contained in a single machine with a single computer. Embodiments utilizing such redistributions can be designed by practitioners in the relevant arts. 

1-27. (canceled)
 28. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (c) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system; wherein certain targeting criteria are applied to de-identified transaction data associated with said encrypted PID; wherein said encrypted PID is associated with a certain targeted message associated with said certain targeting criteria when said de-identified transaction data associated with said encrypted PID meets said certain targeting criteria; and wherein said certain targeted message is transmitted in association with said encrypted PID.
 29. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients on two or more medication that clarify the exact disease for which said patients are being treated that a single medication does not properly identify (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 30. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients taking two or more medications over time indicating their disease is requiring additional treatment to maintain or control its progression; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 31. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients taking a sequence of drugs indicating what stage of therapy within the patients' disease said patients currently are in; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 32. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients not currently being treated for a particular condition but who are likely candidates for drug therapy due to one or more risk factors as defined by other medications within the patients' drug profiles; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 33. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients who are already compliant and or persistent on their medication regimen as defined by consistent use of drug therapy over time; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 34. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients who have already switched from one medication within a drug class to another medication within same or different drug class known to treat the same condition; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 35. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients who are using medications for chronic treatment vs. acute treatment for a particular disease by identifying patients receiving multiple new prescriptions for the same drug over time; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 36. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients that should be eliminated from a patient subset due to a known drug contraindication as identified by additional drug therapy creating the contraindication; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 37. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients that should be eliminated from a patient subset due to a known drug interaction as identified by additional drug therapy creating the drug interaction; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 38. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients that have stopped taking their current medication as identified by being late for a prescription refill and reminding said patients to continue their therapy; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 39. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients that have stopped taking their current medication as identified by being late for a prescription refill and inform said patients of other medications used to treat the same condition that may work better for them; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 40. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients who have previously used medications to treat seasonal conditions that could benefit from similar medication therapy upon the next seasonal event; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 41. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients who may be taking two drugs in combination that could benefit from taking one drug containing both individual drug ingredients; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system.
 42. A method for using a computer system for providing targeted informational messages to individuals, comprising: (a) receiving de-identified individual transaction data and an associated encrypted PID for an individual transaction; (b) determining from said de-identified individual transaction data patients who may benefit from a refill reminder just prior to their prescription refill due date as identified by previous non-compliant prescription refill behavior; (c) associating at least one targeted informational message to associate with said encrypted PID; and (d) transmitting from said computer system said at least one targeted informational message in association with said encrypted PID to an address of another computer system. 